Matale

Matale (Sinhala: මාතලේ, Tamil: மாத்தளை, romanized: Māttaḷai) is a major city in Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital and largest urbanised city of Matale District. Matale is also the second largest urbanised and populated city in Central Province. It is located at the heart of the Central Highlands, of the island and lies in a broad, green fertile valley at an elevation of 364 m (1,194 ft) above sea level. Surrounding the city are the Knuckles Mountain Range, the foothills were called Wiltshire by the British. They have also called this place as Matelle.[4][5][6]

Matale
මාතලේ
மாத்தளை
Administrative Capital
Matale Coat of Arms
Seal
Mataleමාතලේமாத்தளை is located in Sri Lanka
Mataleමාතලේமாத்தளை
Matale
මාතලේ
மாத்தளை
Coordinates: 7°28′7″N 80°37′22″E
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceCentral Province
DistrictMatale District
DivisionMatale Division
Kingdom of AnuradhapuraMathula Colony in 4th century BC
Municipal Council from 1963Matale Municipal Council
Founded byKing Pandukabhaya
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyMatale Municipal Council
 • MayorSandhanam Prakash (CWC)[1]
 • Municipal CommissionerE. L. R. B. Atampawala
 • Matale SecretariatS. M. G. K. Perera[2]
 • Matale Police Deputy Inspector GeneralD. R. L. Ranaweera[3]
Area
 • Administrative Capital70.0 km2 (27.03 sq mi)
 • Urban
25.65 km2 (9.90 sq mi)
 • Metro
71 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation
364 m (1,194 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Urban
38,229
 • Urban density4,051/km2 (10,490/sq mi)
 • Metro
78,864
 • Metro density1,069/km2 (2,770/sq mi)
DemonymMathalites
Language
 • OfficialSinhala and Tamil
 • AdditionalEnglish
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Time in Sri Lanka)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5:30 (not observed)
Postal code
21xxx
Area code066

History

Matale is the only district of Sri Lanka, where an ancient book of written history is found. It is known as Pannagamam – பன்னாகமம் ("Five Headed Serpent" in English) of Goddess Muthumari in Sri Muthumariamman Temple.

The most important historical incident in Matale is writing the thripitaka which was held during the ruling period of king Walagamba in 89–77 BC in Aluvihare, Therefore, this is permanent evidence for human settlements in Matale before centuries of years. There are folklores receipt of the name "Matale". It is mentioned that "Mahatala" become as Matale because it is placed in a valley and also the King Gajaba invaded "Soli Rata" and brought and settled 12,000 peoples in here it is become as Matale. There are number of folktales about the name of Matale. Mahathala has been used for large valley area. It gradually converted as Matale.[7]

The Aluvihare Rock Temple that is situated on north side of the city's suburb, Aluvihare. The historic location where the Pali Canon was written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves in 29 BCE.

Matale was the site of a major battle in 1848 when the Matale Rebellion started and the British garrison in the Fort MacDowall in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels led by Weera Puran Appu and Gongalegoda Banda.

The city is also the birthplace of Monarawila Keppetipola, a rebel who led the Wellasa rebellion against the British troops. His ancestral home, Kappetipola walawuwa, still exists at Hulangamuwa, Matale.

Attractions

Economy

The city is surrounded by large plantations and is famous for its spice gardens. In addition to agriculture, the main economic activities include tourism, business and trade. Population growth, urban expansion and economic development in Matale have created regulatory and management challenges.[8]Matale Municipal Council Area (MMCA)[9][10]

Education
Main article: List of schools in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Matale is home to some of the island's oldest and leading colleges and schools.

  • Cambridge International School, Matale
  • Government Science College
  • Amina Girl's National School, Matale
  • Christ Church College, Matale
  • Greenwood College International, Matale
  • Matale Hindu College, Matale
  • Matale International School
  • Pakkiyam National School, Matale
  • Royal English School Matale
  • St. Thomas' College, Matale
  • St. Thomas' Girls' School, Matale
  • Sinhala Buddhist College, Matale
  • Sri Sangamitta Balika National School, Matale
  • Sujatha Balika School, Matale
  • Technical College, Matale
  • Vijaya College, Matale
  • Vijayapala Collage, Matale
  • Zahira College, Matale

Demographic

According by the statistics of 2019, 8.2% of the population of Matale District live in, Matale city limits and 15% of the population of the district live in, Matale metropolis. [11]

Matale is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural city, city's urban and metro area's residents are mix of numerous ethnic groups. The Sinhalese make the majority of the city. Muslims are the second largest in the city. Others include Sri Lankan Tamils, small numbers of Indian Tamils, Burgher and Malay.

Ethnicity in Urban Area
Urban
Population Percent
Sinhalese
 
 46.1%
Muslims
 
 33.0%
Sri Lankan Tamils
 
 14.1%
Indian Tamils
 
 7.0%
Others
 
 0.9%

Source:statistics.gov.lk

Ethnicity in Metropolis Area
Metropolis
Population Percent
Sinhalese
 
 59.3%
Muslims
 
 20.0%
Sri Lankan Tamils
 
 15.7%
Indian Tamils
 
 2.2%
Others
 
 0.8%

Source:statistics.gov.lk

Suburbs

Notable personalities

References
  1. "Matale Mayor Daljith Aluvihare suspended".
  2. "District Secretariat – Matale".
  3. "Kandy DIG promoted".
  4. "CEYLON. (Hansard, 27 May 1851)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. Tennent, James Emerson (1860). Ceylon: An account of the island. Physical, hist., and topographical with notices of its natural history, antiquities and productions. Illustr. by maps, pl. and drawings. Longman.
  6. Ferguson, John (1893). Ceylon in 1893 describing the progress of the Island since 1803, its present agricultural and commercial enterprises and its unequalled attractions to visitors. John Huddon, London.
  7. "Divisional Secretariat – Matale – About Us". matale.ds.gov.lk. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  8. Gamage, Nardda; Kumara, Sisira (31 December 2016). "Socio-Economic Determinants of Well-Being of Urban Households: A Case of Sri Lanka". Rochester, NY. SSRN 2938379. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Atapattu, A; Subasinghe, Shyamantha; Iwai, Y (24 August 2019). "Urban Growth and Development Pattern of Matale Municipal Council Area". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Gamage, Nardda; Kumara, Sisira (31 December 2016). "Socio-Economic Determinants of Well-Being of Urban Households: A Case of Sri Lanka". Rochester, NY. SSRN 2938379. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "Details – Department of Health Services : Central Province, Sri Lanka". healthdept.cp.gov.lk. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
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